Looking Back on Solemnities in Rome

One of the many things I miss about life in Rome is the strong sense of a Solemnity like today being something important within the life of the city and its inhabitants. Whether it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception or Corpus Christi, life in Italian cities reflects a subtle awareness of the special day without the occasionally strained Catholicism found at places like my alma mater, Christendom College. After Mass, I'd always do something a little extra with friends to commemorate the day, like go to lunch at a nicer restaurant, visit an art gallery or take a train for a short day trip. More shops in the center were closed in observance of the day and in those cafes or restaurants that were open, visitors would frequently part with a "buona festa" to the barista or waiter. Despite the advances of secularism, the culture is still stubbornly Catholic in countries like Italy, Spain, Poland, etc. In US cities, this awareness is notably absent outside the walls of churches. Something to take note of when meditating on culture.